Speaking in the town of Cornwall, Prince Edward Island on Monday, Harper said: "The number one job of the next prime minister of Canada is to protect this country's economy, our earnings, savings and jobs at a time of global economic uncertainty."

"If you give me the honour of re-electing me as your prime minister, I can assure you that I will make it my top priority to protect Canada's economy and Canadians' stake in it," he said.

Meanwhile, Dion called on voters to "stop Stephen Harper," saying the prime minister "has no plan" to safeguard Canada's economy from the worldwide problems provoked by a collapse in the US subprime mortgage market.

"We have a plan to create jobs, to ensure that we are doing all we can in these tough economic times to protect our pensions, our savings, our mortgages, and our jobs," he said.

Polls at the start of the campaign had Harper winning a majority government, but he then hurt himself politically when he said during a debate that Canadians were not concerned about their jobs or mortgages.

'Gaffe-prone'

Days later, he said stocks were cheap. Canada's main stock exchange then had its worst week in almost 70 years.

Harper has since tried to undue the damage by saying that he knows Canadians are worried.

"The number one job of the next prime minister of Canada is to protect this country's economy"

Stephen Harper, Canada's Prime Minister

He contrasted Canada's economic and fiscal performance to the more dire situation in the US